Hydrangea plant named ‘RIE 04’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘RIE 04’ that is characterized by broad upright habit, large medium-green leaves, flowers that are yellow-green to dark pink in color, and unique inflorescence development. In combination these traits set ‘RIE 04’ apart from all other existing varieties of  Hydrangea  known to the inventor.

Genus: Hydrangea.

Species: macrophylla.

Denomination: RIE 04.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofhydrangea that is grown for use as an indoor floral potted plant and anoutdoor ornamental flowering shrub. The new cultivar is knownbotanically as Hydrangea macrophylla and will be referred to hereinafterby the cultivar name ‘RIE 04’.

‘RIE 04’ resulted from a breeding program that was conducted by theinventor at the inventor's nursery in Kyoto, Japan and began in 1990.The purpose of the breeding program was to produce new varieties offloral potted hydrangeas that exhibit new and unique flowers and flowercolor.

Between May 1990 and May 1993 the inventor assembled a collection ofunnamed and unreleased hybrids from a sequence of deliberatepollinations involving the following cultivars, all unpatented, andavailable in commerce in Japan: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Otafuku’,Hydrangea macrophylla, ‘Yamaajisai’, and Hydrangea macrophylla‘Fijinishiritaki’. The inventor did not record which variety was used asmale parent and which as female parent. In May 1993, the inventorcarried out a deliberate pollination between one unnamed plant from theinventor's collection as female parent and the variety Hydrangeamacrophylla ‘Sumidanohanabi’ (unpatented) as male parent.

The pollination described above produced thirty-five individualvarieties, which the inventor considered novel and unusual. One of theseindividual varieties was selected by the inventor in June 1994 and isthe subject of the present invention, ‘RIE 04’.

‘RIE 04’ is a deciduous shrub that exhibits large medium-green leavesand yellow-green to dark pink flowers that bloom in spring and summer.Selection was based on the distinguishing characteristics of flowers,flower color, and inflorescence development. ‘Lace cap’ type hydrangeasproduce showy sterile flowers along the outside of the inflorescence,and small inner flowers that are fertile flowers. When an individualinflorescence of ‘RIE 04’ first opens, it looks like a ‘lace cap’ typeinflorescence with large sterile flowers on the edge. However, unlikethe ‘lace cap’ type Hydrangea, the inflorescence eventually fills outcompletely. Within the inflorescence, center fertile flowers areintermixed with center sterile flowers, so that as the inflorescencedevelops further, the sterile flowers in the center open fully to thencover the smaller fertile flowers. ‘RIE 04’ is distinguishable from theparent plants by flower color, and unique inflorescence development,which produces an average of 275 sterile flowers and 150 fertile flowersper inflorescence.

The inventor considers that ‘RIE04’ is distinct from other varieties ofHydrangea unknown to the inventor in the following respects:

First, whereas other varieties of Hydrangea in commerce have four petalsper floret on a flat, one-dimensional plane, ‘RIE 04’ has two to threelayers of petals per floret, creating a double-flower appearance.

Second, whereas many novel varieties have been found in, or broughtfrom, Japan in recent years, none appear to have the combination ofuniqueness of flower form as above combined with greater vigor andfaster growing to flowering stage which typifies ‘RIE 04’.

Third, the vigor of ‘RIE 04’ is evident in its strong thick stems whichdo not require staking to support the heavy blooms. ‘RIE 04’, althoughvigorous, exhibits a shorter internode distance than many othercommercial forms of Hydrangea, allowing ‘RIE 04’ to be growncommercially with less or even no application of growth regulatingchemical.

‘RIE 04’ was first asexually propagated, by the inventor in the springof 1995 in a cultivated area of Kyoto, Japan. The method used forasexual propagation was softwood cuttings. The characteristics of thenew Hydrangea cultivar named ‘RIE 04’ have been determined stable andare reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new Hydrangea cultivar ‘RIE 04’. These traits incombination distinguish ‘RIE 04’ from all other commercial varieties ofHydrangea known to the inventor. ‘RIE 04’ has not been tested under allpossible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed withvariations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions, withouthowever, any difference in genotype.

-   -   1. Hydrangea ‘RIE 04’ is grown for use as both an indoor floral        potted plant and an outdoor ornamental flowering shrub.    -   2. Hydrangea ‘RIE 04’ exhibits flowers that are yellow-green to        dark pink in color.    -   3. Hydrangea ‘RIE 04’ exhibits unique inflorescence development        that produces an average of 275 sterile flowers and 150 smaller        fertile flowers per inflorescence.    -   4. Hydrangea ‘RIE 04’ exhibits a broad upright habit.    -   5. Hydrangea ‘RIE 04’ exhibits large medium-green leaves.    -   6. Hydrangea ‘RIE 04’ is 42 cm. in height and 58 cm. in diameter        in a 1.5-liter container.    -   7. Hydrangea ‘RIE 04’ is a shrub.    -   8. Hydrangea ‘RIE 04’ is deciduous.    -   9. Hydrangea ‘RIE 04’ performs best when planted in loam based        moisture retentive soil, in partial shade, with regular water.    -   10. Hydrangea ‘RIE 04’ is asexually propagated by the method of        softwood cuttings.    -   11. Hydrangea ‘RIE 04’ exhibits rigid, strong basal branches.    -   12. Hydrangea ‘RIE 04’ is hardy to USDA Zone 5.    -   13. Hydrangea ‘RIE 04’ blooms continuously from early April to        September.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color drawings illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Hydrangea cultivar ‘RIE 04’ showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new variety of Hydrangea named ‘RIE 04’.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 1 depicts an individual whole plant growingin a 1.5-liter container in a frost-protected greenhouse in De Kwakel,The Netherlands. Plants were grown in Peat moss soils with a PH of 6.0to 6.4. The plant is approximately twenty one months old. The plant wasproduced from a cutting which was rooted and grown in a four inchcontainer, then transplanted into the 1.5 liter container and pinched toencourage basal branching, then allowed to shoot from the base andallowed to flower in its natural season. The plant was pruned back tothe base after flowering. The drawing depicts the vigorous basalbranching habit of ‘RIE 04’ in its second season of re-growth. Such aplant would be highly suitable for use as a stock plant for the purposeof providing cutting material for commercial propagation.

The drawing labeled FIG. 2 illustrates the inflorescence of ‘RIE04’, inwhich the center fertile flowers are intermixed with center sterileflowers. This drawing depicts the inflorescence at the stage when thesterile flowers in the center are beginning to open fully and to thencover the smaller fertile flowers.

All drawings were made using conventional techniques and although colorsmay appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance theyare as accurate as possible, by conventional photography.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is the detailed description of ‘RIE 04’ as grown in agreenhouse in De Kwakel, The Netherlands. Data was collected in April2004 from 12-month-old plants grown in 1.5-liter containers. The colordeterminations are in accordance with the 2002 Edition of The ColourChart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except wheregeneral color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Thegrowing requirements are similar to the species.

-   Botanical classification: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘RIE 04’.-   Genus: Hydrangea.-   Species: macrophylla.-   Denomination: ‘RIE 04’.-   Commercial classification: Floral plant, ornamental shrub.-   Common name: Hydrangea.-   Use: Grown for use as a potted indoor plant or as an outdoor    ornamental flowering shrub.-   Container size: Suggested container size is 1.5-liter.-   Cultural requirements: Performs best when planted in loam based    moisture retentive soil, in partial shade, with regular water.-   Parentage: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘RIE 04’ is a hybrid plant that    resulted from the induced cross-pollination of the following parent    plants:    -   -   Female parent.—An unnamed individual Hydrangea macrophylla.        -   Male parent.—An individual Hydrangea macrophylla            ‘Sumidanohanabi’ (unpatented).-   Plant description:    -   -   Blooming seasons.—Spring and summer (natural season) or            year-round if forced.        -   Plant habit.—Broad upright.        -   Plant type.—Deciduous shrub.        -   Overall plant shape.—Broad inverted triangle.        -   Vigor.—Moderate.        -   Growth rate.—An average of 15-cm. per month in spring.        -   Plant height.—42 cm. in height.        -   Plant diameter.—58 cm. in diameter.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 5.        -   High temperature tolerance.—Tolerant to 32° Centigrade.        -   Root sytem.—Fibrous.        -   Propagation.—Propagation is accomplished by the method of            softwood cuttings.        -   Time and temperatures to develop roots.—Approximately 4            weeks is needed to develop roots on an initial cutting, at            temperatures of 18° to 20° Centigrade.        -   Crop time (outdoor plant crop).—An average of 12 months is            needed to produce a commercial container size flowering            outdoor plant, from a rooted cutting.        -   Temperatures (outdoor plant crop).—From rooted cuttings to            commercial size containers, the outdoor crop is grown at            natural outdoor temperatures utilizing unheated greenhouses            for winter protection.        -   Crop time (indoor plant crop).—An average of 4-6 months is            needed to produce a commercial container size flowering            indoor plant, from a rooted cutting.        -   Temperatures (indoor plant crop).—Transplant rooted cuttings            to liner pots and keep for a minimum of 6 weeks at below 5°            Centigrade to force dormancy. Transplant to 1.5-liter            containers and keep at 18° to 25° Centigrade for a minimum            or 10 weeks to produce commercial container size flowering            plants.        -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—No            susceptibility to pests or disease known to the inventor.-   Stem:    -   -   Number of lateral branches.—An average of 3 lateral            branches.        -   Lateral branch length.—Average is 34 cm. in length.        -   Lateral branch diameter.—Average is 7 mm. in diameter.        -   Stem shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Stem surface.—Slightly glossy.        -   Pubescence.—None observed.        -   Stem strength.—Strong.        -   Stem texture.—Rigid.        -   Stem color.—Individual colors 144A, 144B, and N186C are            present on an individual stem.        -   Lenticels.—Present.        -   Quantity of lenticels.—An average of 13 per cubic cm. of            stem surface.        -   Lenticel color.—A combination of colors N186B and N186C is            present on an individual lenticel.        -   Lenticel height.—An average of 0.5 mm. in height.        -   Lenticel width.—An average of 3.5 mm. in width.        -   Branching habit.—Moderate to sparse basal branching.        -   Branching requirements.—Pinching encourages lateral            branching.        -   Internode length.—6.2 cm. between nodes.-   Foliage:    -   -   Type.—Deciduous.        -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Quantity of leaves per lateral stem.—An average of 10            individual leaves per lateral stem.        -   Leaf shape.—Leaves range from broad oval to broad            elliptic-oblong on an individual plant.        -   Apex.—Short apiculate.        -   Base.—Leaf base ranges from obtuse to short attenuate on an            individual plant.        -   Leaf margins.—Crenate.        -   Leaf length.—Average is 13.9 cm. in length.        -   Leaf width.—Average is 10.6 cm. in width.        -   Leaf appearance (adaxial and abaxial surfaces).—Semi-glossy            surfaces.        -   Leaf surfaces (adaxial and abaxial surfaces).—Glabrous.        -   Pubescence.—None present.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Vein color (abaxial surfaces).—144C.        -   Vein color (adaxial surfaces).—A combination of colors 146C            and 146D is present on the veins of an individual leaf.        -   Leaf color (adaxial surfaces).—A combination of colors 137A            and 139A is present on an individual leaf.        -   Leaf color (abaxial surfaces).—A combination of colors 137D            and 138A is present on an individual leaf.        -   Attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Petiole length.—An average of 2.6 cm. in length.        -   Petiole diameter.—An average of 3 mm. in diameter.        -   Petiole surface.—Glabrous.        -   Petiole shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Petiole color.—144B.        -   Durability of foliage to stress.—High durability to stress.        -   Stipules, tendrils, thorns.—None observed.        -   Fragrance.—None observed.-   Flowers:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Terminal inflorescence.        -   Inflorescence type.—Compound corymb.        -   Inflorescence height.—An average of 12.8 cm. in height.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—An average of 23.5 cm. in diameter.        -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—An average of 150            fertile flowers and 275 sterile flowers per individual            inflorescence.        -   Flowering habit.—An individual plant blooms continuously            from early April to September.        -   Quantity of flowers per lateral stem.—An average of 150            fertile flowers, and 275 sterile flowers per individual            lateral stem.        -   Quantity of flower buds per lateral stem.—An average of 150            fertile flower buds and 275 sterile flower buds per            individual lateral stem.        -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—An average of 450            fertile buds and flowers, and an average of 825 sterile buds            and flowers per individual plant.        -   Bud length.—Fertile flower buds are an average of 2 mm. in            length and sterile flower buds are an average of 5 mm. in            length.        -   Bud diameter.—Fertile flower buds are an average of 1 mm. in            diameter and sterile flower buds are an average of 4.5 mm.            in diameter.        -   Bud shape (fertile and sterile buds).—Obovate.        -   Bud apex (fertile and sterile buds).—Obtuse.        -   Bud color (fertile and sterile buds).—A combination of            colors 145A and 145C is present on an individual bud.        -   Flower aspect (fertile flowers).—Flowers range from upward            to outward facing on an individual plant.        -   Flower aspect (sterile flowers).—Sterile flowers are            slightly drooping.        -   Rate of opening (fertile and sterile flowers).—An average of            10% of the flowers on an individual plant open at once, and            all the flowers on an individual plant have opened by 6            weeks.        -   Flower diameter.—Fertile flowers are an average of 3.5 cm.            in diameter, and sterile flowers are an average of 5.5 cm.            in diameter.        -   Flower depth.—Fertile flowers are an average of 4 mm. in            depth and sterile flowers are an average of 1.7 cm. in            depth.        -   Flower shape (fertile and sterile flowers).—Rotate in shape.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning (fertile and sterile            flowers).—Persistent.        -   Peduncle shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Peduncle color.—Individual colors 144B, N186B and N186C are            present on an individual peduncle.        -   Peduncle length.—Average is 6.4 cm. in length.        -   Peduncle diameter.—Average is 3.5 mm. in diameter.        -   Peduncle surface.—Puberulent.        -   Peduncle angle.—Average angle is 35°.        -   Peduncle strength.—Strong.        -   Pedicels (on fertile and sterile flowers).—Present.        -   Lastingness of flowers.—An individual flower lasts 4 weeks.        -   Flower response time.—An average of 9 weeks.        -   Flower fragrance.—None observed.        -   Fertile flowers.—Petal appearance: Dull. Petal surface:            Glabrous. Petal number: An average of 5 petals per flower.            Petals fused or unfused: Unfused. Petal shape: Elliptic.            Petal margin: Entire. Petal apex: From flower to flower an            individual apex can range from obtuse to acute. Petal            length: Average is 1.5 mm. in length. Petal width: Average            is 1 mm. in width. Petal color (abaxial surfaces when            opening): 143C. Petal color (adaxial surfaces when opening):            143C. Petal color (abaxial surfaces when fully opened):            143C. Petal color (adaxial surfaces when fully opened):            143C. Calyx: Present. Calyx shape: Campanulate. Calyx            length: Average of 2 mm. in length. Calyx diameter: Average            of 3 mm. in diameter. Sepals: 5 in number. Fused or unfused:            Fused. Sepal shape: Ovate. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal apex:            Acute. Sepal base: Cuneate. Sepal appearance: Dull. Sepal            surfaces (adaxial and abaxial surfaces): Puberulent. Sepal            length: Average of 1.5 mm. in length. Sepal width: Average            of 1 mm. in width. Sepal color (abaxial and adaxial            surfaces): 145A. Pedicel length: Average is 2 mm. in length.            Pedicel diameter: Average is 1.5 mm. in diameter. Pedicel            angle: Average angle is 35°. Pedicel strength: Moderate.            Pedicel color: A combination of colors 144A and 144B is            present on an individual pedicel. Pedicel surface:            Puberulent. Lenticels: None observed on pedicels of fertile            flowers.        -   Sterile flowers.—Tepal appearance: Dull. Tepal surface:            Glabrous. Tepal number: An average of 15 tepals per sterile            flower. Tepals fused or unfused: Unfused. Tepal shape:            Closest to rhomboidal. Tepal margin: Entire. Tepal apex:            Rounded. Tepal length: Average of 2.2 cm. in length. Tepal            width: Average of 2 cm. in width. Tepal color (abaxial            surfaces when opening): Individual colors 69A, 70D and 149D            are present on an individual tepal. Tepal color (adaxial            surfaces when opening): Individual colors 70D and 149D are            present on an individual tepal. Tepal color (abaxial            surfaces fully opened): 73C. Tepal color (adaxial surfaces            when fully opened): Individual colors 73A and 75B are            present on an individual tepal. Tepal color fading to            (adaxial and abaxial surfaces): 150D. Calyx: None observed.            Pedicel length: Average is 4.7 cm. in length. Pedicel            diameter: Average is 2 mm. in diameter. Pedicel angle:            Average angle is 35°. Pedicel strength: Moderate. Pedicel            color: 73D. Pedicel surface: Glabrous. Pubescence: None            observed. Lenticels: Present on pedicel. Lenticel height:            0.5 mm. in height. Lenticel width: 1 mm. in width. Lenticel            color: 61B.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—None observed.        -   Anthers.—None observed.        -   Pistil.—None observed.        -   Stigma.—None observed.        -   Ovary.—Present on fertile flowers.        -   Ovary position.—Inferior.        -   Ovary color.—157D.        -   Ovary dimensions.—0.2 mm. in height and 0.2 mm. in diameter.        -   Ovary shape.—Globular.-   Seed production: No seed production has been observed to date.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘RIE 04’ asdescribed and illustrated herein.